HPF has unlocked its AEM engine management system for all customers. Well, they have unlocked it for an extra $1000. That 1k buys you the ability to tune for different hardware than what HPF provides, larger/smaller turbos, as well as E85. So, they are mimicking what the Pro-EFI does except with a monetary penalty. Would this have come about if the Pro-EFI was not stealing a bit of thunder? We seriously doubt it. With the $1k it costs to get this feature from HPF, it may simply be better to go Pro-EFI to begin with. Still, this is a nice option and one that should have been available a long time ago although we understand how HPF would be apprehensive about novices blowing up their motors.

This seems like a good thing to end users but its actually a revenue generator. Those 4 hrs, they said, are used as 1 hr increments. Ie., 15 min call = 1 hr. Wait until someone messes up the PID loop for boost or something and they spend 5 hrs with "support". Bam - make dat cash.

So you have to pay $1000 to have access to YOUR hardware. Thats like BMW saying here is your new car...but the keys will cost you another grand. I guess they need to make some extra cash. Maybe next they will put a lock on the meth tank and charge for each fill.

So you have to pay $1000 to have access to YOUR hardware. Thats like BMW saying here is your new car...but the keys will cost you another grand. I guess they need to make some extra cash. Maybe next they will put a lock on the meth tank and charge for each fill.

They are offering 4 hrs of free tech support in 1hr increments so that must be worth part of the US$1000 charge that comes with it.

This is quite correct. It would be nice if they gave you the option of paying for the tech support. The people who want to to do this likely won't need HPF's help so having to pay for hand holding isn't in their interest since they are attempting to get away from exactly that.

BMW does not but BMW is not selling an aftermarket EMS that is used in conjunction with aftermarket hardware where tuning and flexibility are priorities, correct? Your analogy is not perfect either.

The difference is I wasn't making an "analogy" to advance an argument, which is pretty logically unsound in most if not all cases; just pointing out a problematic extension of the somewhat general statement you made.

Priorities depend on the customer. I can't really agree that hpf customers buying a pre-made kit with a knowingly locked-down ecu and a warranty (for christs sake) were really seeing end user tuning / flexibility as a priority. Some of those who mistakenly did so and changed their minds now switching to another ecu option, namely proefi, which provides completely open end-user ecu control at the cost of a warranty. There's simply no need to involve hpf whatsoever and pay that fee if that's the route the customer is looking to go; but of course HPF is going to offer this at expense of those gullible and with enough disposable income enough to pay. Why wouldn't they? They're charging you for services like anything else, not holding you at gunpoint for $1000 if they get wind that you removed their ecu from your car.
edit: If you really can't let go of the AEM ecu for whatever reason, and are that strapped for cash despite your purchasing of an expensive pre-made complete turbo kit that you can't buy another ecu, you could always have a someone take a crack at the encryption

The difference is I wasn't making an "analogy" to advance an argument, which is pretty logically unsound in most if not all cases; just pointing out a problematic extension of the somewhat general statement you made

An unsound analogy is unsound but a solid one certainly can advance an argument. You made one yourself with BMW not offering end user tuning in comparison to HPF.

Originally Posted by nickr519

Priorities depend on the customer. I can't really agree that hpf customers buying a pre-made kit with a knowingly locked-down ecu and a warranty (for christs sake) were really seeing end user tuning / flexibility as a priority. Some of those who mistakenly did so and changed their minds now switching to another ecu option, namely proefi, which provides completely open end-user ecu control at the cost of a warranty. There's simply no need to involve hpf whatsoever and pay that fee if that's the route the customer is looking to go; but of course HPF is going to offer this at expense of those gullible and with enough disposable income enough to pay. Why wouldn't they? They're charging you for services like anything else, not holding you at gunpoint for $1000 if they get wind that you removed their ecu from your car.

I agree with you completely.

Would you agree that this has come about as a result of Pro-EFI and that it should have been offered earlier, even at a $1k price, if at least to provide the option?

Iam going to get an HPF kit, been researching for months, the main reason I have been holding off on the purchase was because I was hoping that proefi would be available through HPF. I really am a HPF fanboi but I think it's kinda redick of HPF to charge for the aem unlock, your losing enough with throwing the warranty out the window, wich to me is worth more than the $1000.

Iam going to get an HPF kit, been researching for months, the main reason I have been holding off on the purchase was because I was hoping that proefi would be available through HPF. I really am a HPF fanboi but I think it's kinda redick of HPF to charge for the aem unlock, your losing enough with throwing the warranty out the window, wich to me is worth more than the $1000.

So even if you make changes with the 4 hours of support you are buying you lose the warranty?